England are out of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup after falling to a 2-0 semi-final defeat by an imperious Japan side at the Stade de la Rabine.
The teams met as the two highest scorers in the competition – each having dished out a six-goal thrashing in the group stages – and England were almost off the mark in the second minute when Chloe Kelly spun past her marker and hit a smart low effort that was clawed wide at full stretch by Hannah Stambaugh in the Japan goal.
It was the only sighting of goal they were afforded all half. Galvanised by their early lapse, Futoshi Ikeda’s side quickly dominated the ball with crisp, purposeful passing that pinned England ever further back.
Japan’s intent was ominous and the breakthrough came in the 22nd minute when Riko Ueki swivelled on the edge of the box and thumped unerringly home. Five minutes later it was two, Jun Endo nodding past a prone Sandy MacIver after Hinata Miyazawa’s swirling long‑range shot had cannoned off the bar. The same goal frame was rattled again before the half was out.
England emerged from the interval re-energised and the early stages of the second period saw a role reversal as Japan’s defence were put to a belated test. England were unable to translate territory into chances, however, too often let down by a careless final pass. The closest they came was through a 35-yard effort from Alessia Russo, more a sign of desperation than intent.
With the storm weathered, Japan began to turn the screw once again. Drifting out to the right, Ueki slithered to the byline and flashed a shot across goal; minutes later Endo made similar inroads from the other flank.
Amid this Russo nodded a header just wide but in truth England were largely kept at arm’s length by a Japan side whose technical class probably merited a more emphatic scoreline.
They return to Vannes on Friday to face Spain, who defeated France 1-0 in the other semi-final. England will finish a spirited campaign with the third-place play-off on the same afternoon.
